ELIZA A presentation by: Christopher Gregory Johnnidis A presentation by: Christopher Gregory Johnnidis

What is this ELIZA? Computer program that has natural langauge interactions with humans Chatterbot: a bot program that attempts to maintain a conversation with a human. parodies a Rogerian therapist - essentially an automated psychotherapist Developed in 1966 by Joseph Weizenbaum at MIT Name is a reference to the myth of Pygmalion Computer program that has natural langauge interactions with humans Chatterbot: a bot program that attempts to maintain a conversation with a human. parodies a Rogerian therapist - essentially an automated psychotherapist Developed in 1966 by Joseph Weizenbaum at MIT Name is a reference to the myth of Pygmalion

How does Eliza work? 1) Scans input sentences for keywords Keywords can have rank/precendence number Commas/periods delimeters -> only single phrases 2) Analyzes input sentences according to transformation rules - decomposes sentence keyword + transformation rule = script 3) Responses generated based on reassembly rules associated with the decomposition rules. 1) Scans input sentences for keywords Keywords can have rank/precendence number Commas/periods delimeters -> only single phrases 2) Analyzes input sentences according to transformation rules - decomposes sentence keyword + transformation rule = script 3) Responses generated based on reassembly rules associated with the decomposition rules.

Technical Problems 1. the identification of key words, 2. the discovery of minimal context, 3. the choice of appropriate transformation rules, 4. generation of responses in the absence of keywords, and 5. the provision of an ending capacity for ELIZA "scripts" 1. the identification of key words, 2. the discovery of minimal context, 3. the choice of appropriate transformation rules, 4. generation of responses in the absence of keywords, and 5. the provision of an ending capacity for ELIZA "scripts" (Weizenbaum, 1966)

Illustrative example ELIZA’s simple yet effective program works as a sort of situational NLP because it does not have to have a large database filled with semantic meanings for a given context; ELIZA does not care about meaning. e.g. “I feel BLAH” How long have you felt BLAH? ELIZA’s simple yet effective program works as a sort of situational NLP because it does not have to have a large database filled with semantic meanings for a given context; ELIZA does not care about meaning. e.g. “I feel BLAH” How long have you felt BLAH?

Why does Eliza work? Doesn’t need a large knowledge database Relies on suspension of disbelief and the assumption by the “patient” of implicit meaning in what ELIZA says Doesn’t need a large knowledge database Relies on suspension of disbelief and the assumption by the “patient” of implicit meaning in what ELIZA says

A real-life example One Saturday morning about 9 a.m., a Vice President of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman in charge of selling our Telcomp commercial service arrived at our PDP-1 computer room hoping to be able to use the computer for a demonstration. He found a note on the PDP-1 teletype that read: "TYPE ALL MESSAGES INTO THIS TELETYPE AND END THEM WITH A PERIOD." This note was left there by one of the programming bums who had just succedeed in making run a LISP version of the DOCTOR program (based on ELIZA as developed by Weizenbaum). However, the VP thought that this note indicated that this teletype was linked with the one in my home, since I often use the computer all night. Therefore, he started typing to "me," but in fact was typing to this version of the DOCTOR program. The following conversation ensued: (taken from SEHR, volume 4, issue 2: Constructions of the Mind) One Saturday morning about 9 a.m., a Vice President of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman in charge of selling our Telcomp commercial service arrived at our PDP-1 computer room hoping to be able to use the computer for a demonstration. He found a note on the PDP-1 teletype that read: "TYPE ALL MESSAGES INTO THIS TELETYPE AND END THEM WITH A PERIOD." This note was left there by one of the programming bums who had just succedeed in making run a LISP version of the DOCTOR program (based on ELIZA as developed by Weizenbaum). However, the VP thought that this note indicated that this teletype was linked with the one in my home, since I often use the computer all night. Therefore, he started typing to "me," but in fact was typing to this version of the DOCTOR program. The following conversation ensued: (taken from SEHR, volume 4, issue 2: Constructions of the Mind)

real-life example vp: Do you think that I can use the computer this morning? eliza: Why do you ask? vp: I might be able to make some additional Telcom sales. eliza: Why aren't you so sure? vp: My perspective customers have never seen a demonstration of the system. eliza: Does this mean very much to you? vp: Of course it does. eliza: You seem very positive about that. vp: This is ridiculous. vp: Do you think that I can use the computer this morning? eliza: Why do you ask? vp: I might be able to make some additional Telcom sales. eliza: Why aren't you so sure? vp: My perspective customers have never seen a demonstration of the system. eliza: Does this mean very much to you? vp: Of course it does. eliza: You seem very positive about that. vp: This is ridiculous.

real-life example eliza: What do you mean, this is ridiculous? vp: Is there any reason why I can't use the computer now? eliza: Tell me more about your perspective customers. vp: Please dial me up on Note that after the last remark the VP did not obey instructions, and left out the period. Therefore, of course, the computer didn't answer him. This so infuriated the VP, who thought I was playing games with him, that he called me up, woke me from a deep sleep, and said: vp: Why are you being so snotty to me? bobrow: What do you mean I am being snotty to you? The VP angrily read me the dialog that "we" had been having, and couldn't get any response but laughter from me. It took a while to convince him it really was a computer. eliza: What do you mean, this is ridiculous? vp: Is there any reason why I can't use the computer now? eliza: Tell me more about your perspective customers. vp: Please dial me up on Note that after the last remark the VP did not obey instructions, and left out the period. Therefore, of course, the computer didn't answer him. This so infuriated the VP, who thought I was playing games with him, that he called me up, woke me from a deep sleep, and said: vp: Why are you being so snotty to me? bobrow: What do you mean I am being snotty to you? The VP angrily read me the dialog that "we" had been having, and couldn't get any response but laughter from me. It took a while to convince him it really was a computer.

My encounter with ELIZA yo, Eliza Eliza? Hah! I would appreciate it if you would continue. wha?? anyway, i need your help Is it because you need my help that you came to me? CLEARLY. so im presenting on you soon. can you do something funny so I can show everyone? yo, Eliza Eliza? Hah! I would appreciate it if you would continue. wha?? anyway, i need your help Is it because you need my help that you came to me? CLEARLY. so im presenting on you soon. can you do something funny so I can show everyone?

My encounter with ELIZA Why do you say that? oh dear Can you elaborate on that? ok, nevermind. youre a horrible listener Earlier you said you need my help? oh so you were listening... Maybe your plans have something to do with this. goodbye Eliza My secretary will send you a bill. as if! Why do you say that? oh dear Can you elaborate on that? ok, nevermind. youre a horrible listener Earlier you said you need my help? oh so you were listening... Maybe your plans have something to do with this. goodbye Eliza My secretary will send you a bill. as if!

Hmmm! Clearly ELIZA has shortcomings when you try to interact with it in a non-psychotherapy setting. Yet ELIZA still remains one of the most successful interactive programs of its time. Clearly ELIZA has shortcomings when you try to interact with it in a non-psychotherapy setting. Yet ELIZA still remains one of the most successful interactive programs of its time.

Eliza, meet Parry. in 1972 Kenneth Colby created PARRY at Stanford University, another chatterbot. attempted to imitate a paranoid schizophrenic Just as ELIZA takes advantage of the ability to dodge questions, PARRY takes advantage of the ability to give seemingly outlandish responses. ELIZA was criticized for a lack of an internal world tracking; PARRY somewhat addressed this issue. in 1972 Kenneth Colby created PARRY at Stanford University, another chatterbot. attempted to imitate a paranoid schizophrenic Just as ELIZA takes advantage of the ability to dodge questions, PARRY takes advantage of the ability to give seemingly outlandish responses. ELIZA was criticized for a lack of an internal world tracking; PARRY somewhat addressed this issue.

Questions?? If so, ask ELIZA, because our time is up.